Wireless Remote Flash (Page 2): I've never been able to make the on camera flash menu to control slave units. I have the 7d2 & 5dIII along with the 580 & 600 model flashes. I've used a...

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

Notorious T.O.D. wrote:

I have the canon remote and 3 600 Speedlites and find it works flawlessly. The canon controls and capabilities are the same on all. I find it worth the money to me. Your mileage may vary.

I've never been able to make the on camera flash menu to control slave units. I have the 7d2 & 5dIII along with the 580 & 600 model flashes. I've used a Vello transmitter which works fine for powering the flashes. Am I to assume that the Canon control is required to control the power on slave units?

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

You can get pdf copies of the canon Speedlite and camera manuals from the canon website. I don’t have either of your bodies so I can’t comment there. I do believe that the on camera menus for speedlites are more limited than the 600 Speedlites or the r3 controller. The only thing that I don’t like about the R3 is the angle can make it hard to read if mounted on camera on a high tripod. I also use it off camera to fire and adjust settings if I am setting up multiple lights and metering for say portraits. It fits nicely in a pocket. Of course a 600 speedlite can also be mounted on camera and used as a master control and fire or not fire its flash too. I find it to be a very capable and integrated system. There are also some quick reference cards available from B&H for about $10 that can be useful too.

raymondh wrote:

I've never been able to make the on camera flash menu to control slave units. I have the 7d2 & 5dIII along with the 580 & 600 model flashes. I've used a Vello transmitter which works fine for powering the flashes. Am I to assume that the Canon control is required to control the power on slave units?

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I have the Yongnuo transmitter/receiver combo for my Nikons. Works great. Found a good YouTube video to set it up, the manual is worthless. Under $100.

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Ritz wrote:

I have a Canon 6D Mark ll and the 600EXll-RT flash... (show quote)

I use Pocketwizard tt5's. the TT5 transceivers can be used on camera as sending units or on flash as receivers. I actually use a TT1 on the camera as a sending unit. TT1's and TT5's can be found somewhat inexpensively on Ebay. They also allow TTL metering. With a configuration of a Pocketwizard AC3 unit on top of the TT1 on camera, you have +-3 steps of individual control for 3 groups of flashes when shooting manual flash. TTL works well but the metering may not give you the results you want when using multiple flashes.

Canon 5DS, 5D2 and 70D integrate well with this setup.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Ritz wrote:

I have a Canon 6D Mark ll and the 600EXll-RT flash... (show quote)

I can tell you that the Yongnuo ST-E3-RT will trigger and control both the Canon 600-EX-RT and the Yongnuo version at a fraction of the cost of the Canon. It has exactly the same features (ETTL, multiple groups, remote power setting for each flash...) as does their 600-EX-RT clone of the Canon flash - you couldn’t tell them apart without looking at the logo on the case), but I can’t speak to the long term reliability as I’ve only used it occasionally over the last few years. Btw, Yongnuo also makes an inexpensive (~$20) wireless receiver that the ST-E3-RT will also trigger with an external output port. I use one to trigger my Novatron strobes from the same ST-E3-RT - very handy.

dandev Loc: Enumclaw, WA

I have used the Canon ST-E3-RT for many years. I've heard good things about the Yongnuo.
The main issue I have with this design is the inability to see the controls when the camera is on a tripod that is fairly high. (around 5 feet for me.) Something that tilts or has controls and display facing the user (vs straight up) would be preferable to me.

Ritz

TriX wrote:

I can tell you that the Yongnuo ST-E3-RT will trig... (show quote)

Thanks for all this good information. It has really helped.
Ritz

ejkmurphy46

I have used yongnu (sp?) remote flash attachments for years. It's great and not very expensive.

rcarol

Ritz wrote:

I have a Canon 6D Mark ll and the 600EXll-RT flash... (show quote)

Have you considered a very simple solution of using an optical slave trigger? They are available at B&H for about $20.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Really depends if you want to control the Speedlite parameters or just fire it... To me having a very capable Speedlite and not taking advantage of it is rather a waste...

rcarol wrote:

Have you considered a very simple solution of using an optical slave trigger? They are available at B&H for about $20.

rcarol

Notorious T.O.D. wrote:

Really depends if you want to control the Speedlite parameters or just fire it... To me having a very capable Speedlite and not taking advantage of it is rather a waste...

That all depends on how often you plan to use it. If you only need it for a one-time situation, then it doesn't make much sense to invest a small fortune on triggers/receivers. However, if you need TTL performance or you plan to use it often, then the added investment would be worth it.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

The 600s already have the radio and IR receivers built in. The OP just needs to decide what level of the features are to be controlled off camera and how to do it for the cost. My thought is that the best thing would be to have a solution that offers a lot of functionality. Others may not care about that through... if you are 5 feet from the camera you might not need what you would want if you are 100’ from the camera, my experience.

rcarol wrote:

That all depends on how often you plan to use it. If you only need it for a one-time situation, then it doesn't make much sense to invest a small fortune on triggers/receivers. However, if you need TTL performance or you plan to use it often, then the added investment would be worth it.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Ritz wrote:

I have a Canon 6D Mark ll and the 600EXll-RT flash... (show quote)

I have several 600 RT's from Canon, as well as several from Yongnuo, I also have ST-E3-RT's from both and I find the E-3 from Yungnuo very reliable, it also allows second curtain sync in radio remote!

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

I have usrd Cactus for years and they are very dependable.

Ritz

I ended up buying and setting up the Yongnuo ST-E3-RT with my Canon 6D Mark ll & 600EX ll-RT flash. Was a snap to setup and works great. What a relief. Couldn't be happier and saved a lot of money.
Ritz